Shoe-polishing machine.



F.V HUMPHRBVILLE. SHOE 'POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED ooT. s1, 190s.

Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

nuenroz 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Nov.23, 1909. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F. HUMPHREVILLE.

SHOE POLISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 31, 1908.

- f Q d ze, 7 E

ima-all' wam 50 (3 represents a detail side elevation of UNITED sTATasPATENT OFFICE.

FRANK I-IVUMPHREVILLE, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGN OR TO EDWIN iHUMPHREVILLE, F LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

sHoaPoLIsiiINe MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

Application iiled October 31, 1908. Serial No. 460,533.

viLLn, a citizen of the United States, residi ing at Lancaster, in thecounty of Lancaster v and State of Pennsylvania, have invented ltangular'quadrilateral in certain new and` useful .Improvements inShoe-Polishing Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull,

clear, and

exact description of the invention, s uch as it appertains to make anduse the saine.

The main object of this invention is to provide for brushing andpolishing boots and shoes on the wearers feet by means of pairs ofbrushes 'acting on the sides of said shoes and additional brushes forthe tops of said shoes,

the foot rests and the chair for each wearer being carried along bymechanism so as to bring the shoes properly into contact with saidbrushes, the chairs and foot rests being afterward moved around thechair track to their first position. To effect this general object, Iprovide certain novel devices for thus carrying said chair andfoot-rests in guide ways constituting an enduntil their work is done,then movin@ them vout of the way of the shoes for the Ifoot to passand'temporarily holding them in such position out of use and linallyautomatically restoring them to their operative position ready for thenext pair of shoes.

My invention also consists in divers details and incidental improvementsof said machine substantially as hereinafter set forth and claimed. y

In the accompanying drawings Figure l represents a plan View, partlybroken away of a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 represents aside elevation of the same, also partly broken away; Fig. 3 represents asection of the same on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. I represents a vertical longitudinal section of a part of the sameon line M of Fig. l; Fig. 5 represents a plan View of o ne of the topbrushes and proximate parts; l"rg. a top brush lifted by the shoe, withother parts:

Fig. 7 represents a detail side elevation of the locking devices for atop brush; Fig. S

represents a detaii section of parts of the io will enable othersskilled in the artto. which i gearing and Fig. 9, a side View of theslotted plates for one of the side brushes.

A designates the elevated platform of myv inachine,which is preferablyan elongated recform, having steps a at each end for convenientlyascending and descending, and sides A, said steps, sides and platformconstituting a hollow casing for the two sprocket wheels B, their shaftsC and S and their endless chain D, whereby each chair E is carried alongby contact of any lug-Z of a series raised at. intervals on saidchainwith a block or lug c extending downward from said chair through a slotf of a guide-rail or track I1` fixed to platform A, said slot and railbeing endless ai'id of elliptical form. One side of this ellipticaltrack is directly over the said chain.' The said wheels are faston theirshafts, one of these shafts being the main driving shaft of the machine,so as to,v keep up the forward motion of the chain and of all chairs inposition to be acted on thereby. For convenience of illustration onlyone chair is shown in the drawings, but of course there may be several,all traveling along together. Said driving shaft may be actuated by amotor S through suitable gears s or in any other convenient way.

G designates a pair of vadditional rails or tracks for the shoe supportsor foot rests Il, which are connected to the chair by arms /i and run onsaid tracks. Each of these additional rails or tracks has a longitudinalslot g throughout its length and these slots receive small lugs ll onthe bottoni of toot rests H, which lugs extend a slight distance downintovtheni, in order that the said rails may guide as well as supportsaid fool rests, l I

though readily permitting their disengagement at will by manuallytilting the chair on its rollers E, which run on track F. That part ofsaid track on which the chair is drawn forward by said chain is locatedbetween these two additional tracks or rails.

vI designates a pair of upwardlyY tapering brushes which receive a shoebetween them and polish the"`saine as the foot rest inoves on ashcreinbelore described. These brushes are carried by shafts J, which aredrawn toward each' other b v an intervening spring K sind connected byuniversal or double joints L to short verl ical shafts M, journaled inbearings m which are fastened on frame N. A shaft O, extendingtransverselyof the machine and turning in bearin s n on said frame,carries beveled pinions engaging similar pinions m of shafts M, and thusdrives a pair of rotating side brushes I. S: 'd' shaft O is driven bythe main shaft S thr= ugli suitable intermediate gearing. Ireferably asshown, a longitudinal shaft P s employed for this purpose, connectingwith all the shafts O by bevel gear pinions p and p and having as manypinions p as there are shafts O. Bevel gear pinions p2 p2 connect shaftsS and P for transmitting rotation to the latter. 'Ihe first pair of sidebrushes I in the order of travel is generally used for cleaning theshoe, the second for applying blacking, the third for polishing and thefourth for completing the polish. The material of the brushes may varyaccordingly.

devices for operating each y pair of side brushes are the same, onlythose for one pair have been shown in full.

Each side brush shaft J turns in a bearing or bushing z' of a plate I,movable transshaft J of that pair, giving itmore or less.

lateral inclination. f A stud J on iixed plate Q passes up through slotI2, so that the late I is permitted to slide laterally over pate Q withsuch lateral pivotal movements 0f shaft J and is guided in such slidingby said stud and the walls of slot Q2, the double or universal joint Lpermitting such movement without bindingwvhile the shafts J and M rotatetogether as described. The forivard movement of foot and shoe with thefoot rest forces the pair of brushes I apart against the pull of springK-and the latter holds them yieldingly against the shoes at lessinclination than before. After the shoe vpasses the two brushes restevenly against each other from end to end. The tapering shape andinclined position of said brushes are found to best adapt them forfittingI against the inclined and hollowed surfaces ofthe inner sides ofthe shoe. The slot.Q'- in each fixed plate Q is made broader than thediameter of said shaft., to allow play of such shafts thus jointed, andthe stud J permits slightpivotal movement of late I corresponding tosuch movement o said shaft.

A belt 1' from a pulley O2 turning with shaft O, to pulley R2 on avertical shaft R drives the latter in its bearings carried by the frame.A pinion R of the latter shaft meshes with a pinion t on the shaft T ofthe upper or top brush T, which operates B ut these are matters of confvenience and choice, not obligatory. As the onthe top of the shoe a.littlebeyond 'the pair of side brushes- I in 'the direction of travel.This top brush has a concave sur-lv face, to lit better on the roundedsurface of the instep. Its shaft T is mounted for rotation in horizontalbearing t of an angular bracket U', which moves as one piece with asleeve U, surroundin the upper part of shaft It and having slig tvertical play thereon. This play suifices to allow a tooth U2 of saidbracket below said bearing to settle into a notch V of a fixedhorizontal semi-circular bai` oi' rail V, or to ride up on the said barout of said notch, as the said sleeve, bracket, shaft and vbrush arelowered or raised vand turned, all together. Said sleeve has a groovedpulley W and a wheel lV mounted on it, so that-it and these two Wheelsturn together. A cord W2 is connected to said pulley W and asses aroundthe same and around a gui e pulley W3, mounted horizontally at a fixedpoint to one of the tracks G last mentioned, its other end beingconnected to the. rear end of a bar X which slides in guide ways X ofsaid track. An arm X2 of said bar, pivoted thereto, carries a stud ywhich extends upwardly through a longitudinal guide slot Y of the saidtrack into the path of the footrest travelin thereon. The forward `endof said gui e slot is inclined laterally at Y. A replacing spring Z isconnected to wheel W in vsuc manner as to act in o 'osition to the pullofthe bar X 'on pulley and sleeve U as said bar moves forward, the otherend of said sprin being fastened to the frame The ppleration of thesedevices is as follows. en the shoe having been acted on by the rotatingside brushes, reaches the' top brush, thelatter, also rotating, brushesthe top of the shoe andthe instep. The Wedge like action of -said instepthen raises said brush and its shaft and said bearing, thus freeingtoothfU2 from notch V and the forward pressure ofthe travelingV footrest against study carries said stud along the longitudinal part ofguide slot Y with similar motion of arm X2 and bar X and vconsequentpull on cord W2 and pulley W,

turning sleeve U and bracket U', so as to turn shaft T. and top brush Tlaterallysout of the path of travel of the shoe. As the stud y reachesthe laterally inclined end Y of slot Y, the pivotal attachment of arm Xpermits the rounded corner of said foot rest to force said stud intosaid inclined end of the slot and said foot-rest holds it there until itpasses said stud, the top brush being quite out of the way during thispei'iod.- As soon as the font rest has passed the said stud the"laltter'isrfi'ee. The action of the replacing springnthen first draws itagain into the bar and connected parts to their first or nor'- nextcustomer takes his seat in it.

Amail position. At the beginning of this replacing movement the saidpivoted arm yieldsas before to permit thereturn of the stud y from thelaterally inclined end of the slot into the main longitudinal partthereof. During the above described action of the said side and topbrushes on one boot or shoe, theA corresponding brushes are of courseacting in the same Way on the other shoe and passing through'the samesuccessionof movements simultaneously to effect the same' end. .This isrepeated with eachsuccessive two pairs of side brushes and their topbrush. Of course it is possible to dispense with all except the firstset of side brushes and top by. hand or otherwise before their action.At the end' of the brushing journey the occupant ofeach chair leaves it,passingv down the steps; an attendant tilts the chair slightly to-remove the lugs H from the slot-s and then moves the chair on itsrollers around to the other side of the platform and to the end fromwhich they start. One chair is always near thestarting point. The

The attendant pushes it far enough forward for the block e to be caughtby the next lug (l of the chain so that the latter will carry the chairand its footrests forward as described. In the meantime theA next chairhas been pushed to thepface at first. occupied by the first chairf'andthis is repeated as often as customers appear or until all the chairsare in use. `The return side of the elliptical I track constitutes asource of supply of chairs awaiting occupants.

I The gearing of the machine is calculated to 'rotate the brushes muchfaster than the sprocket wheel driving the endless chain. I do not connemyself to any particular form of frame or shafts or brushes oi'bearings, thoughthe forms shown are generally preferred.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

' 1. In shoe brushing mechanism, an endless chair track, and foot resttracks parallel to a part thereof, in combination with brushes I Yarranged to act on shoes passingalong said footre'st tracks, footrestsfor such shoes and mechanism for moving the chair and foot-rests forwardinto contact with said brushes and 'beyond the saine.

Q2.' In shoe-brushing mechanism, a pair of sida brushes and means fo`rautomatically rotating them, in combination with a footl'fest andmechanism for moving yforward the brush, the blacking being appliedwearer said foot rest and the shoe supported thereby, thus causing saidshoe to pass between said brushes substantially as set forth.

3. In shoe brushing mechanism, a pair of side brushes and their shafts,said shafts being provided with universal joints and hav'- ing a limitedlateral play toward and from each other, in combination with means foryieldinglydra-wing said brushes together, means for rotating saidshafts, foot rests and a seat and means for moving said foot rests andseat forward, said foot rests in such operation passing between saidbrushes substantially 4as set forth.

4. In shoe brushing mechanism, a pair of side brushes and their shaftsJ, in combinatio-n with shafts M and joints connecting said shafts,means for rotating the shafts thus connected, sliding plates providedwith bearings foi' the shafts carrying the brushes and fixed platesprovided with slots which ricelve these shafts and are of sufficientwidth to permit their lateral play, said fixed plates and sliding plateshaving stud and slot connections adapted to such pla-y and or from eachother substantially as set forth.

I 5. In shoe brushing mechanism, a top brush and its shaft, 1ncombination with -ine-ans for turning them and connections permittingsaid shaft and brush to move out of the path of the shoe, a foot-restfor the latter and means for moving forward both the foot-rest and thewearer of theshoe, in order l to bring the upper of the slice againstand under said brush substantially as set forth. (i. In slice-brushingmechanism, a top brush and its shaft, means for temporarily locking saidshaft in position to operate on the upper of the shoe, devices forturning said' shaft. and bruslm` connections permittingv said brush andshaft `to move pivotally out of the way of the,sho'e when unlocked andmeans for moving said footrest forward under said bruslnsaid lockingmea-ns being adapted to yield and unlock as the instep lifts the.brusliin passing under the latter.

7. In -shoe brushing mechanism, a top brush and its shaft, a verticallymovable brush, its shaft, a bearing bracket for the latter. a sleeveconnected to and supporting said bracket, a vertical shaftgeared withand turning the first named shaft and on which the said sleeve hasvertical play, a foot rest, means'for moving ,said foot-rest ward.

forward under said brush, mechanism for rotating said vertical shaft anddevices operated by said foot-rest in its forward movement to turn saidsleeve on said vertical shaft and thus move said brush out of the pathof the shoe as the latter travels for- 9. In shoe brushing mechanism, atop brush, its shaft, a bearing bracket for the latter, a sleevecarrying said bearing bracket, a vertical shaft gearing with said brushshaft and having said sleeve on it, means for rotating said verticalshaft, a shoe rest means for moving said shoe rest forward under saidbrush, a pair of wheels turnin with4 said sleeve, a spring acting on oneo said wheels to turn said sleeve backward, a part arranged to be struckby said foot rest and moved forward and intervening devlces connectingthe other wheel to said part and arranged so that such action of thefoot rest on the latter will turn said sleeve forward thus moving thesaid brush out of thev way of the shoe.

10. In shoe brushing mechanism, a top brush, its shaft, a bearingbracket for the latter, a sleeve lcarrying' -said bracket and havingvertical play on said shaft, a foot rest, means for locking said bearingto hold said brush across the line' of travel of said l#foot-'rest andthe shoe thereon, but to be unlocked by the lifting action of theinstep,

means vfor moving said foot-rest forward under said brush, a partadapted to be struck and carried forward by said foot rest,.con-

'nections between said part and said sleeve .for turning the latterforward to move said brushoutof the path ofthe said shoe, means forautomatically'replacing said sleeve and said part in their lfirstVposition after the passage of the foot rest and shoe, means forpermltting said foot rest to pass said 'parti and hold the latteragainst moving back- Ward until said foot rest has entirely passed, `ashaft which drives said brush shaft and on which said sleeve is mountedand means for rotating said shaft within said sleeve substantially asset forth.,

11.'In shoe-brushing mechanism, a topbrush and its shaft, in combinationwith a foot rest havinga rounded forward corner, means for moving saidfoot rest forward under said brush, a stud arranged to be struck by'thefoot-rest and thus carried forL ward and -also turned off laterally bysaid rounded corner, a fixed part having a guide slot for said stud,which slot has an inclined forward. portion permitting said corner tomore said stud out of the way of said foot rest, and permitting also theside of the foot rest to hold it in this 'position until said foot resthas entirely passed, an -arm to which said -stud is attached, alongitudinally sliding bar to which said arm is pivoted, a shaftg'carcfl to said brush shaft, a sleeve turning on the former shaft,means for rotating this shaft, means connecting said slidingbar to saidsleeve for turning the latter forward to move said brush out of the wayof the foot-rest'and shoe and hold it so, and a replacing spring actingon said sleeve and the parts connectedthereto when the passage of thefoot has freed said stud, permitl2. In shoe brushing mechanism, twoparallel slotted tracks, in combination Awith a pair of foot restshaving short lugs in said tracks though said rests are easily separabletherefrom, an endless chair track, a chair running on said trackconnected to said foot rests and also easily separable from its track,sets of brushes arranged at intervals along the two tracks firstmentioned, for successively acting on the shoes as the latter travelforward on said tracks, means for actuating said brushes and means formoving said chair along its track, in order that said foot rests and theshoes thereon may be carried along their tracks and be brushedsubstantially asset forth.

13. In shoe brushing mechanism, a pair of tracks, in combination withfoot rests running along the same and guided thereby,

means for causing such motion of the footrests, two sets of brushes eachconsisting of two side brushes and one top brush for acting on the pairof shoes carried by said foot rests, mechanism for rotating all of saidbrushesandvmeans for automatically moving the top brush out of the wayof the shoe after the brushing and afterward permitting vit to return toits first position ready for the next shoe asset forth.

let. In combination with a pair of foot rests and means for movingforward the same and the wearer of the shoes resting tionary withrespect to the forward travel of said foot-rests and shoes and theirwearer `.arranged to act on such shoes respectively,

asthey are thus carried forward.

15. In combination with a pair of foot rests, a track, means for movingalong said track the said foot rests and the wearer of the shoes restingthereon, and sets of brushes which are stationary with respect to theforward travel of sai foot rests arranged for contact with said shoeswhile the latter are moving.

16. In combination with two sets of movable' brushes and means formoving them, a pair of footrests, means for moving said foot rests andthe 'wearer of the slices resting thereon, to pass the shoes betweensaid brushes and in contact therewith, and mechanism for'moving saidbrushes while in contact with the shoes. 17. In shoe brushing mechanism,a top brush, means forl temporarily locking the same 1n position to acton a shoe, supporting devlces for said brush adapted to be raised by theaction of the instep on the under side l of the brush, thus freeing saidlocking means, and also adapted to turn axially for removing said brushfrom the line of travel' of the shoe, 'a foot rest, means for moving itforward under said brush, a movable part arranged to be struekandcarried along by said foot rest, then moved laterally out of the waythereof and locked there until said foot rest has passed, connectionsbetween said part and the supporting deviees of the FRANK HUMPHREvLLE.

Witnesses JOHN L. FLETCHER, RIUHAnD E. BABCOCK.

